Tape dispensing mechanism with blade guard



Dec. 22, 1953 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH BLADE GUARD Filed July 12, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR N 5Y5 Dec. 22, 1953 o. P. ERHA'RDT I 63 TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH BLADE GUARD Filed July 12, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1953 o. P. ERHARDT 2,663,369

'TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH BLADE GU RD Filed July 12, 1949 a Sheet-She't s ATTO R N EY6 Dec. 22, 1953 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH BLADE GUARD 6 Sh ets Sheet 4 Filed July 12, 1949 ATTO R N EYS Dec. 22, 1953 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH BLADE GUARD e Shets-Sheet 5 Filed July 12, 1949 ATTOR N E S Dec. 22, 1953 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH BLADE GUARD Filed July 12 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTOR N EYS Patented Dec. 22, 1953 TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH BLADE GUARD Oscar. P; Erhardt, Derby, Conn, assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, 001111., a. corporation of Connecticut Application July 12:, 1949;.Ser1'al'No. 104,219

12' Claims. 1

This invention relates to a tape-dispensing mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape which is tacky or clingable upon one surface.

illustrated, the device comprises what may be: termed a pull machine, in that the tape is grasped between the thumb" and forefinger of the operator and drawnfrom the roll. In some devices of this character, tape dispensers are so constructed that a free end of the tape will be presented in" a projecting position, so that this free end may be grasped by the userof the device. In some instances, however, it is undesirable for the fingers of the operator to contact the extreme end of the tape on the tacky side thereof, and for this reason the present machine is so designed that the tape is grasped at some distance rearwardly of the free. end.

Some means must be provided to sever the tape, which in the present instance comprises a stationary severing blade against which the tape is drawn after being pulled from the supply roll, and, in order that the severing operation may be easily performed, the severing blade is provided with a sharp edge. In order to prevent the fingers of the operator from being injured by coming into contact with the sharp edge of the severing blade, a guard is movably mounted adjacent the blade so that this guard will normally stand over the sharp edge of the blade and shield the same from contact. In some of the embodiments of the invention the guard member-is pivoted; or movably attached, to the frame or blade support and isconnected to an actuating member in such a manner that movement of the-actuating memher will effect a retiring or receding movement of. the guard to expose the blade for contact with the tape. This actuating-member serves a double purpose in that it acts as. a stripper to strip the tape from the severing blade after a severing operation, and restores the guard to its operative position inwhich it shields the edge of'the blade, and also holds. the free end of the tape in a proper extended position so. that it may be grasped by the user in: order to draw aleng-th of tape from the supply roll in asubsequent operation.

To effect the latter function, the. actuating member is provided with a. tape-end; supporting surface adapted to engage the; tacky side: of. the tape, and, in grasping the tape for a subsequent operation t fingers of the operator engage the tape of this supporting surface or between it andthesupply roll so. that hisfingers do not come into contactiwith. the forward edge of thetape.

As a result of" this arrangement, the operator may readily grasp. the tape rearwardly of its extreme end, and. draw it from the roll: Upon movement of: the: tape toward the severing blade, the stripper member will be engaged; and moved in a direction to move the. guard member from its shielding position over the edge of the blade, so that the. tape may contact the latter and be severed. As the edge of the severingmember is normally covered except when the tape is moved toward it. for a: severing operation, a sharp blade may be employed without danger to the operator.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for dispensing, pressure-sensitive tape.

A furtherrobject of the invention isto provide a mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape such that the free.- end of the tape attached to the roll" will. be held in an extended position whereby the end may be grasped by the operator at a pointrearwardly of the extreme end.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tapedispensing machine having a severing blade and a guardamovably mounted on the frame adjacent the blade; and so arranged that while it normally covers the blade edge, it will be moved tor an inoperative position to expose the blade for contact of the-tape therewith, and also to provide a: stripper member connectedto the guard member: to effect movement thereof, the stripper member serving to strip the tape from the blade and restore. the guard to its operative position after a. severing operation.

Stillv another object of the invention is to provide; adevice of the character described above in which the stripper member is provided with a tape-endsupporting surface. engaging the tacky side of the tape to hold the free end of the tape in an extended position.

Tothese and other ends the invention consists in. the. novel features andcombinations of parts to, be, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying. drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of a tape-dispensing mechanism embodying my invention, the cover of. the-housing being removed to show the interior mechanism;

Fig. 2. is a: front eievational view thereof, some Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the modification shown in Fig. 6 with the parts in position occupied during the severing operation;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the stripper and guard mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing a further modification;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line llll!l of Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are views similar to Fig. 9 but showing the parts in different positions;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of a further modification of my invention;

Fig. 14 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectionalview on. line l5--l5 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 but showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification of the severing and guard mechanism; and

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on line l8-l8 of Fig. 17.

To illustrate one embodiment of my invention, I have shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings a tape-dispensing mechanism comprising a frame consisting of a base It! and a casing or housing supported upon the base. This housing comprises an upstanding side plate I I having a laterally extending peripheral flange I2 at the rear and upper portion thereof, and a front flange l3. The latter also extends laterally from the plate H and, as shown more especially in Fig. 1, is inclined rearwardly from the base Ill in the direction of the supply roll of tape, which will be later described. The flange I2 is discontinued at the forward part of the machine so as to provide an opening through which the tape may emerge, and adjacent the forward portion of the plate I! the latter is provided with a recess M. An arcuate flange l5 extends laterally into the case from the lower edge of this recess.

The case may be completed by a cover member l6 (Fig. 2) which is of substantially the same shape as the plate l2 and designed to be secured at the edges of the flanges I2 and I3 opposite those to which the plate I l is secured. This cover plate l6 may be secured in place by a nut ll which is threaded upon a threaded spindle i8 secured in a boss 19 upon the plate I! and which extends through an opening 20 in the cover.

Upon the spindle I8 is rotatably mounted a holder or reel 22 upon which is mounted a supply roll of tape 23. Forwardly of the tape, as shown in Fig. 1, a guide roller 24 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 25 secured to the plate H, this guide roller being engaged by the nontacky side of the tape as it extends forwardly from the supply roll 23, as shown at 26.

Secured to the flange l3 adjacent the upper edge thereof is the severing blade 21 against which the tape may be drawn to be severed, this blade being held in place by a plate 28 secured to the flange It by screws 29. The plate 28 may be provided adjacent each side edge with an upstanding guard finger 36 to guard the edges of the blade 2?, it being understood that the tape is drawn downwardly between these fingers when severed against the blade.

Secured to the inner face of the flange I3 is a guide bracket 32, this bracket being provided with a guide channel 33 at each side edge, these channels being spaced apart and facing each other in opposed relation. Slidably carried by the guide member 32 is a stripper member of substantially U-shaped form, this member comprising an upper Web 34 and depending legs 35 and 35, one of the legs being mounted in each of the guide channel as so that the stripper member will be free to slide in an inclined direction parallel to the flange it.

A spring 31 is secured at its upper end to the guide member 32 and at its lower end to a bar 36 connecting the legs 35 and 3% so that the stripper member will be urged in an upward direction. A stop 39 is secured to the flange l3 and adapted to engage the bar 33 to limit the upward movement of the stripper member. A tape-end supporting member 48 is secured upon the web member 3 3 of the stripper, and this supporting member, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is adapted to engage the tacky side of the tape which will cling thereto, Thus the free end of the tape extending from the roll is normally held in extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the operator may insert his forefinger in the recess it below the tape and grasp the latter to draw it from the supply roll.

As previously stated, it is desirable to provide a guard for the sharp edge of the severing blade to prevent engagement of the fingers of the user therewith, and it is necessary that this guard be moved to an inoperative position at the time of the severing operation in order that the tape may engage the blade. To this end a guard member of T-shaped form is provided as shown more especially in Fig. 3, this guard comprising the member ti having a relatively broad forward end 42 designed to normally stand above the edge of the blade as shown in Fig. 1. The guard member is provided with depending flanges 44 which are pivotally mounted upon a pin 33 secured to the legs 35 and 36 of the stripper member.

The guard is also connected to the frame by means of a plate link 55, this lint: being pivoted at its upper end to a pin secured to the guard member, and pivoted at its lower end upon a pin ii carried in upstanding ears .23 provided upon the guide member Thus, it will be seen that the guard member is pivoted directly to the legs 35 and 35 of the stripper and is pivotally attached to the frame by means of the intermediate link l5 which is pivoted at one end to the guard member and at the other end. to the guide 32. It will be seen that during the initial movement or" the stripper member downwardly, carrying with it the pivot pin the guard member M, which normally stands in the position shown in Fig. l with its forward portion over the severing blade, will be tilted about the pivot 46 so that it will be moved to the position shown in Fig. so that its forward end will be drawn rearwardly or away from the severing blade. Upon continued movement of the stripper member downwardly, the link as will be moved about the pivot 3?, thus moving the guard to the position shown in 5 in which the guard is in a substantially vertical position, and the stripper member has been moved to a position to permit the tape to engage the severing blade.

In the operation of the device, the cover it is removed and a supply roll of tape placed upon the reel 22, the free end of the tape is drawn outwardly in the opening in the case below the guide roller 24%, and the end placed upon the anomssa tanesend; suppomnu tor adhere: parts: are; then the; positiom shown? in 1: it. will; be.v seexrthatztheireeiiend of the. tape: is. held in extendedmositionso, that the operator-mar srasp the-atone rearwardlv oi the; tape-end: support: by: inserting :his finger in thezrecess; is; Thus: the. fingers; of: thezoperator; do: not; come; into: contact; with; the, extreme end-distance. shown in, dotted. lines in his, 1-,. the-o erator,mar-lint the tape iromthe snpport.- 4d: and; drawthe; desired: length from the. 11011; He then; moves; the; tape; downwardly toward the severing member. The again eontactszthe-tape end supporting. surface ist. and the strippermemhendownwardip against. he: tension, of; the. spring; 31. downward movement or: the: stripp r: member withdraws thee-nerd. Ail; fromits: position. above-.1 the. e the: blade; as: showmin Figs. .41 and. hasr engages the; sharpredge of; the/severing, bladeand.

is severed thereagainst.

As soon. as the severing. action takes. place, the stripper: member is urged upwardly, by the spring 31,; thus stripping. the tape from: the sev- I eri-ng; blade; if it; tends; to cling; thereto, and also restoring the blade guard to: itsoriginai position shown in l?ig L, [is the. of. thetape clings to the support as, the-tape will be carried to the position: shown inF-ig; i inzwhichit will be: held: in: an. extendedv position so.- that ittmav berreadil'y grasped by the; operator, for. a subsequent operation. Aszthe-mevement of. the stripperymember, and, therefore, the tape-end support; 4 9 is inv aninclined direetion; the, length ofitheta-pebetweenthe rear edgeozt the: tapeend; support. andthe; point at. which the. tape leaves the supply roll; willbe no greater. the upper" position oi the tapeeend; support.- than, in its; lower" position. There, will, thereto-re, be; no tendency of; the; stripper: to. bind in its, upward movement. as, might. be the: case. it it wereares quired to draw. a. srnal-l additional.- length. of tape from the supply r011.

In Figs. dto 8.01 the. drawingalhave. shown a modificationof. my, invention, which differs principally, from that previously described in. the

construction of the guardmeniberiand its conr neoti'on with the stripper: The guide member 3 his ofsubstantialiy; the same form-as the guide member previouslydescribed as is also the stripper member, comprising the Web portion 3 3 and thelegsand as; Thead "onaI su-pport ing surface iii has been ornitte 'in this form= of my invention: so that the-tapeclingsto: the upper SUI'fELOQiOfThE web 34 The guard member 51!, whichstands over the blade 21:; isprovided at each edge with; a depending flanged! whioh'fianges are-pivoted upon a-= pin 52- seoured-tospaced" ears -3 uponthe member" 32. rear rrard-ly extending projections 5t designed to beengagedby a pin 55 ext'endihg between the. legssii and Shot the-stripper: The projecting portions es extend in spaced relation tothe flanges 5 l'so as: to leave a recess' fifi therebetween.

Normally-the parts stand the position shown in Fig. 6 With the tapeengaged with the'- -uppe1:-' surfaceof the stripper member 3%. When asutticientlengthoftape has been drawn from the machine. and the tapem'oved downwardly so-that it may be severed againstthe blade" 21, the pin- 55 enters the recess 55* and The flanges B i are provided with by engaging: projection:- M rocks; the. guard member: about'the pivot; pin. 52:; Wherr.the:.-guard member is rocked rearwardiy through. a: sinicient; distance, it. becomes over balanoed and drops under the influencev of gravity to the po.- sitionshownin. Fig. 7, so. that: the. stripper me ber, may: move downwardly to asufficient extent to. permit the-tape tocontact the blade. ,Upon the. upward movement of the: stripper member under the: influence oi. the: spring 3?, after, the severing: operation has taken place, the. pin 55 engages-the rear edges of the flanges 5! and restores; the stripper member to the position shown in Fig. 6; At the end; of this movement, the. projfecting members 5'4- strihe. the.- pin and prevent theguard" from striking the: sharp edge of the-severingmember:

IILFlgSJQ to 1210i" the drawings, I have shown a: further; modification of the severing and stripping; devices. A-guidemernber 5'! is slidably mounted at the rear face ofthe flange is and a: guard member 58 ispivotedat to the upper end of'this guidemember; A stop he is secured to the guard 58, the'stopbeing adapted to engage the upper edge of the flange |3-to limit the forward-movement of the guard about thepivot Extending rearwardly'from theguide member 5'! are flanges 6| and-6 2 provided with guide slots 63' and 554', through which extends the-body portion 65 of the stripper, this portion carrying a tape-e-nd'support 65 at its upper end. A spring 63, secured to the member 55' at the lower end of the spring and'to the member s t at the upper end of the spring; urges the stripper in an upward direction.

The body'ofthe guard member 581s provided with a rearwardly extending tail portion 68, and the body 65 of the stripper member is provided with a forwardly projecting cam portion 69 hav ing a downwardly extending end is. shown in Fig; 9, when-the stripper member is at its up per position, the cam portion til engages the rear face of the'guard member 58 and holds it in its operative-position; When, however, the stripper member'is moved-downwardly, the cam end portion is engages the tail to ofthe guard member and swings the latter rearwardly about its pivot 59', as shown in- Fig. 11.

It will be seen that with the parts in the po sition shown in-n'Fig: 1, the guard member has been'moved-toi-a position to expose the severing blade, but-the stripper member has not been moved downwardly to asufficient'extent to permit the tape" to engage the blade. For this rea son the guide member to which-the stripper member is pivoted, is slidablymounted upon'tho flange [3 so' that this guide member associatedparts may-move downwardly with'the con tinued movement-0fthe-stripper. To this end the guide member? is provided with an: elongated slot" 12; throughwhich extend screws is and is secured in-the flange it, so that this guide meniberm-ay-slide' downwardly upon the flange from the-position shown; in 11 to the position shown='in-Fig; 1-2; A spring F5; secured at its upper end to thescrew 13" and secured atits lower endtothe guide member- 57, normally; urges the guide member to its upper' position.-

When' the operator-has drawn a length of tape from the supply roll and moves the tape downwardly toward thesevering made, the depending ca-m endTfi-uporr the stripper engages tairp'ortionfih oftheguard and moves the latter' to theposition shown irrFi'g; 1'1. at this 7 time the lower portion of the cam projection 59 strikes the pivot pin 59 and continued downward movement of the stripper also effects downward movement of the guide member i and the guard pivoted thereto, so that all of the parts move from the position shown in Fig. 11 to that shown in Fig. 12. When the tape has been severed, the spring "it returns the guide member to its up per position, while the spring Si returns the stripper to its uppermost position shown in Fig. 9.

In Figs. 13 to of the drawings, I have shown a further modification in which a severing blade 35 is secured to the forward face of the flange it by a clamping plate ill. As shown in 14 the severing edge 82 of the blade stands in an inclined position with respect to the iiange 53. A guard member as is pivoted to the rear face of the lange S3 at M, this guard being provided with a rearwardly projecting pin and a guard flange 8% which extends fowvardly over the inclined edge 8? of the flange- 53 so that the 86 stands over the edge 8 of the severing blade and extends in a direction substantially parallel with the edge of the blade.

A stripper member provided with an upper tape-supporting surface 355, is slidably mounted at the rear of the flange it, the guard member 83' lying between this member and the flange. The member ti; is provided with a guide slot 55% slidably receiving the pivot pin til of the guard member 8 3, and is also provided with a guide slot Si slioably receiving a pin secured to the flange it, this latter pin also being received an arcuate slot 93 provided in the guard mernher. A spring El i normally urges the stripper member 83 upwardly.

The stripper member 83 aiso provided with an L-shaped slot .95 which receives the pin upon the blade guard 83.

As shown in Fig. 16, the blade guard 33 swings laterally from a position over the edge 82 of the severing blade to a po. ition in which the guard flange 85 extends substantially vertically and ex poses the edge of the blade, the swinging motion of the guard taking place about its pivotal connection M with the flange 83. This movement is effected by the engagement of the horizontal portion of the Lshaped slot in the stripper with the pin 85 on the guard member, will now be described.

Normally the parts are in the position shown in Figs. l3, l4 and 15. When the operator has drawn a suflicient length of tapefroin the supply roll and moves the tape downwardly toward the severing blade, pressure of the tape upon. the tape-end supporting surface 89 will cause the stripper to move downwardly, the initial movement being from the position shown in 15 to that shown in full lines in Fig. 16. During this part of the movement, the upper edge of the horizontal portion of the |.--shaped slot 95 will bear against the pin 85 and swing the guard plate to the position shown in Fig. 16. At this time the pin 35 has moved inwardly so as to register with the vertical portion of the slot Upon further downward movement of the stripper member 82, the latter moves downwardly independently of any movement of the guard 83. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 16, this relative movement being permitted by the pin a5 engaging the vertical por" tion of the slot 55.

After the tape has been severed, a reverse movement of the parts will take place. That is, the stripper S8 will move from the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 16 to the full-line position shown in this figure, at which time the member' 83 will move upwardly relatively to the pin 85 until the latter reaches the bottom of the vertical slot. When the pin is engaged by the lower edge of the slot 95, it will be moved upwardly and the horizontal portion of this slot will also permit it to move outwardly as will be required by reason of the guard 83 being pivoted at the point 84. During the continued upward movement of the stripper, the guard will be moved from its position shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fig. 15 in which it stands over the edge of the blade.

In Figs. 17 and 18 of the drawings, I have shown a further modification of my invention in which a stripper member '91 is slidably mounted at the rear face of the flange IS, the stripper member being provided with. a slot 98 which receives screws 99 and Hill secured in the flange. A spring IEII, secured to the screw 99 at its upper end and to the end of the stripper 91 at its lower end, urges the stripper upwardly. The latter is provided with a tape-end supporting surface Hi2 at its upper end.

Projecting forwardly from the side edges of the stripper at its upper end are cars its and 35 which extend through out out portions lilfi and Ill? of the flange l3. Rotatably carried by the ears m4 and I05 is a guard roller I98 which stands forwardly of the severin blade 2i, while the tape-end supporting surface I02 is rearwardly of this blade, as shown in Fig. 17.

When the operator moves the tape towards the severing blade, the stripper 91 is moved downwardly, thus moving the guard roller I08 downwardly from the full-line position shown in Fig. 17 to the dotted-line position shown in this figure, thus enabling the tape to be engaged with the cutting edge ofthe blade 21 to be severed thereby. After the severing operation, the spring llll moves the stripper and guard roller upwardly to the full-line position shown in Fig. 17 in which the blade edge is again protected by the guard roller I98 and the free end of the tape is held in extended position by its adherence upon the tapeend supporting surface H32.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade fixedly supported on the frame in a position spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support having an upwardly facing supporting surface to engage the tacky side of the tape, means mounting the tape-end support on the frame adjacent the blade for movement in a direction transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, a blade guard hingedly connected to the frame and normally overlying saidblade to guard the same, and means connecting said guard to said tape-end support mountingmember for movement thereby to an inoperative position.

2. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitlve tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade supported in fixed position on the frame in a pos1t1on spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support having an upwardly facing supporting surface to engage the tacky side of the tape, means mounting the tape-end support on the frame adjacent the blade for movement in a direction transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, and a blade guard hingedly connected to the frameand normally overlying said blade to guard the same, and means connecting said guard to said tapeend support mounting member for movement thereby to an inoperative position, said tape-end support being moved by pressure of the tape thereon when the latter is drawn toward the blade.

3. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade fixedly supported on the frame in a substantially upright position and in a position spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support having an upwardly facing supporting surface to engage the tacky side of the tape, means mounting the tape-end support on the frame adjacent the blade for movement in a direction substantially parallel to the blade and transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, a blade guard hingedly connected to the frame and normally overlying said blade to guard the same, means connecting said guard to said tapeend support mountin member for movement thereby to operative and inoperative position, said tape-end support being connected to the frame below the path of the tape, and a spring urging said support upwardly across said path.

4. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade supported in fixed position on the frame in a position spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support having an upwardly directed tape-engaging surface, means mounting the tape-end support on the frame adjacent'the blade for movement in a direction transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, a blade guard hingedly connected to the frame for movement to a guarding position in which it overhangs the blade and to an inoperative position, and means connecting said guard to the tape-end support mounting means for movement thereby to both of said positions.

5. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade supported on the frame in a position spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support, means mounting the tape-end support on the frame adjacent the blade for movement in a direction transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, a blade guard engaged with said mounting means to be moved thereby, and a link pivoted to the frame and to said guard.

6. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade supported on the frame in a position spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support, means mountingthe tape-end support on the frame adjacent the blade for movement in a direction transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, a blade guard, a link pivoted to the frame and to said guard, and interengaging means between said guard and mounting means whereby movement of the mounting means eifects movement of the guard away from the blade.

7. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensi tive tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade supported on the frame in a position spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support, means mounting the tape-end support on the frame adjacent the blade for movement in a direction transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, a blade guard pivoted to said mounting means, and a link pivotedto the frame and to said guard.

8. A device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blade guard is pivoted on the frame and provided with a projecting member, and the means connecting said guard to the mounting member comprises means on the mounting member to engage said projecting member.

9. A device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blade guard is pivoted to the frame and provided with a projecting member, and said mounting member carries means to engage said projecting member and. provide a lost-motion connection between the projecting member and the mounting means.

10'. A device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hinged connection of the blade guard with the frame comprises a plate slidably mounted on the frame to which the blade guard is pivoted, and wherein the mounting means is provided with a member to first engage and swing said guard about its pivot and thereafter move said plate.

11. In a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, means thereon for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a severing blade fixedly supported on the frame in a substantially upright position at a point spaced from the supply roll, a tape-end support, means mounting said tape-end support on the frame adjacent the blade for sliding movement in a direction substantially parallel to the blade and transverse to the path of the tape between the supply roll and blade, a blade guard, means pivotally connectin said guard to the frame for movement to an operative position overlying the blade and to an inoperative position in which the blade is exposed, and interengaging means between said mounting means and said guard whereby the latter is moved to both of its positions by movement of the mounting means.

12. A device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape according to claim 11 wherein the blade guard is pivoted to the mounting means of the tape-end support for movement by the latter.

OSCAR P. ERHARDT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Erhardt May 29, 1951 

